VietNamNet Bridge – The British contemporary dance company Candoco will make its debut performance in Ha Noi on Sunday night to kick off the Great Week – which aims to showcase the best of the UK in Viet Nam.

British contemporary dance group to perform in Vietnam

The British contemporary dance company Candoco will make its debut performance in Ha Noi on Sunday night to kick off the Great Week – which aims to showcase the best of the UK in Viet Nam.

Founded in 1991, the company consists of both disabled and non-disabled artists.

Their performance in Ha Noi Opera House will be opened by an act presented by four Vietnamese disabled children from the Nghi Luc Song (The Will to Live) Centre and artists from the Youth Theatre. The act will be choreographed by Candoco in the days prior to the show.

This opening piece -- called "choreographic residence" -- is an idea initiated by the company as they tour the world and create opportunities to bring changes in the perception of, and association with, disability. Moreover, disabled participants gain a huge sense of achievement, pride and confidence through taking part in the performances.

Among eight Candoco artists coming to Viet Nam, three have physical disabilities. Together they will showcase special contemporary dances, including Studies for C, Set and Reset/Reset, and Imperfect Storm.

After the debut show, Candoco will also take part in the international dance festival "Europe Meets Asia in Contemporary Dance" in Ha Noi.

The artists then will travel to HCM City where they will present their repertoire at the city's Opera House on October 3. In addition, they will also conduct a dance workshop for street and migrant children in collaboration with SOUL Academy.

Alongside the Candoco's performances, the Great Week will also present a film festival dedicated to British comedies. The cinema event will take place in five of Viet Nam's major cities from September 30.

The film collection to be presented includes Local Hero (1983), A Private Function (1984), The Witches (1990), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994) and Shaun of the Dead (2004). The films will be screened in Ha Noi, HCM City, Hai Phong, Can Tho and Da Nang – where for the first time outdoor showings will be organised in the rural district of Hoa Vang.

The British Council Viet Nam's country director Chris Brown said: "The UK has a great tradition of comedy – it is fun and carries some powerful messages at the same time."

"Many of our selections are classics. They are great and timeless. We want to share them with you instead of just keeping them for ourselves."

All shows are free and tickets can be collected from 2pm on Wednesday (Sep 25) at the following address: In Ha Noi, at the British Council, 20 Thuy Khue Street; in Hai Phong, at the External Relations Department, 15 Tran Quang Khai Street, and the MegaStar Thuy Duong Plaza on Le Hong Phong Street; in Da Nang, at the MegaStar Vinh Trung Plaza on Hung Vuong Street; in HCM City, at the British Council, 25 Le Duan Street; in Can Tho, at the Ninh Kieu Cinema, 91 Vo Van Kieu Street.

Source: VNS